Chapter 364 (1/2)

Chapter 364

A path of rich red paver stones led up to the Denoir estate, flanked by thigh-high bushes that were currently blooht blue flowers despite the chill froe, easily three times the size of the Helstea estate where I had lived in Xyrus, and the grounds around it rivalled the yards of the royal palace fro a e of an to blink to life throughout the gardens as we approached, bathing the grounds in a soft yello One of the oversized double doors into the estate opened, and a wo quickly to e hair was pulled up in a bun, just as it had been when I'd seen her outside the Relictombs descension portal

"Lady Caera!" she said war "And Ascender Grey" She bowed again "Welcome to the Denoir estate"

"Thank you," I said, returning her warm smile "And you would be Nessa, correct?"

The woman was clearly surprised, buta third tih her tone was steady, I could just see a red blush spreading onto her cheeks

"No need to be so huhten "Caera expressed that you are half the reason she stayed sane under the highlord and lady's roof"

Nessa's blush deepened, and she see for the wo toward the house

After a few steps, Caera shot a glance back over her shoulder, her expression both playful and scolding

She had preparedthe evening's protocol, even outlining the likely topics of conversation should her adoptive parents attele me into some political debate

Caera most likely viewed hts with uess she wouldn't be entirely wrong—but she didn't know that I had been a king inwith people like the Denoirs

A few h er wolanced a peek only to meet my eyes I flashed her a polite s her eyes back to the floor Fro roohout the large roo the far wall

Standing at the bar was Lauden Denoir, who I'dmaroon dress with brilliantly white hair that draped over her shoulders was leaning back in a lounging chair—Caera's adoptive mother, Lenora Denoir The blond swordsracefully as we entered, practically floating up out of her seat and giving us a well-practiced but welco frolance, and I could practically see the gears turning behind her perceptive eyes

Nessa bowed and stepped aside "Lady Lenora of Highblood Denoir Lady Caera has returned She brings with her a guest, Ascender Grey" Then she straightened and backed up so she was nearly pressed against the wall next to the sitting rooesturing to the closest couch "Join me and my son for a drink while ait for my husband He should be down any lasses from the bar, one of which he handed to his mother, then he turned and held out his hand to ain, Ascender Grey Or do you prefer professor, now?" His manners were impeccable, but they couldn't completely shroud the obvious tension that he carried in his shoulders and brows

"Please, Grey would be more than adequate," I answered

Lauden handed the second glass to Caera As soon as her adoptive brother's back was to her, she wrinkled her nose and set it down surreptitiously Lauden didn't seem to notice as he returned to the bar "Well then, Grey, ould you like to drink? My father takes no little pride in the quality of our collection Here you will find only the finest and most potent drinks, specifically tailored to be enjoyed by those with the elevated ic"

"It's only proper that I wait for the highlord, as tradition dictates he has the first drink when i him a wink "But I would enjoy the opportunity to sample your fine collection, of course"

Lauden chuckled "A man of culture My father will no doubt appreciate your adherence to the social nor without you"

With this formality out of the way, Lauden continued to make small talk while Lenora questioned Caera about the academy Lady Denoir and Caera's attitude toward each other was stiff and businesslike, and I caught Caera glancing in my direction more than once

After a few minutes, the noise of heavy, unhurried footsteps in the hall announced Highlord Corbett Denoir's arrival

We all stood as the highlord entered the sitting rooned in order to keepthese noble types His clever eyes juered on est His white and navy suit looked like it cost as olden-hilted saber at his side

Crossing one arm over my chest with my fist just below htly, just the gentle inclination of ave to show respect, but not subservience This siesture—I had all but shouted that I saw our positions as equal—would set a spark to the questions in his hblood

"Welco around behind where his as sitting and resting a hand on her shoulder "This , hasn't itup at hiiven us such a novel experience, as neither of us are accusto our invitations rejected"

Her execution was flawless—politefully teasing with barbs hidden between her words and a blade in her sies," I replied with a weary smile "It was my selfish desire to express to the other professors at Central Acadehtfully earned a position there"

"Coardless, Corbett and I are quite curious about you Why don't weroom, and you can tell us about yourself over a wonderful dinner our cooks have prepared in your honor?"

Standing, I held out my arm to the Denoir matron, who took it with a curious smile "Lead the way, Lady Denoir," I said politely

She did so, with the rest of the Denoirs following after us Corbett spoke quietly with Lauden about so while Lenora showed off the hout the estate, including several very fine paintings and tapestries, and at least a dozen different accolades returned fro rooh for at least thirty people Three chandeliers hung froht Another s one side of the room, while the other was covered up by cabinets and shelves filled with fine dishes and silverware in dozens of different stylings It was clearly a valuable collection, and likely soreat pride in, a fact I filed away for our conversations

The table was already set, and Lenora ledfor me to take the seat just left of the head of the table, where Highlord Denoir sat a moment later Lenora sat across from me, with Caera to my left, and Lauden across from her next to his mother It was a position of honor, to be sat at the left hand of the highlord, which I assumed was normally reserved for his son

Lenora continued to chat ahile hors d'oeuvres were served, and I grinned and laughed freely between bites of spiced figs topped with crisp bits of meat The conversation shi+fted to Corbett over an appetizer of stuffedinterest ined about the Denoirs' donations to the Central Academy library Caera kept a cool kind of silence, not interjecting in the conversation unless she was addressed directly

It wasn't until the salad arrived that the conversation shi+fted into soan, stabbing his fork into his bowl, "I was hoping to learna position at Central Acadehly of your blood's connections"

I gave the ed nonchalantly "I'm sorry to disappoint, but there is noaround My parents are froe, and they were both simple people My father was killed in the war," I said passively, my voice devoid of emotion "After the as over, I turned to the Relicto to take care of my mother and sister"

Corbett listened as if he only half believed me, but Lenora's hand hadthose savages in Dicathen"

Lauden grunted unhappily, turning away frolass

Seeing an opportunity to take the reins of the conversation, I said, "Indeed, far too ic forests?"

"Elenoir," Lauden answered, staring down into his drink, his expression sour

"That's it," I said, rapping h, frohblood Denoir didn't have a presence there"

Corbett and Lenora exchanged a quick glance "No," Corbett answered after awe needed in Alacrya Maintaining a hold in such a far off land, and still full of turmoil, seemed an unnecessary complication"

"A fortuitous decision Many others weren't so wise" I turned to Lauden "You lost people in Elenoir?"

He tipped back his glass, finishi+ng off his drink in one gulp "A lot of those ent to Elenoir to set up the holds were blood-heirs, or second sons I knew many of them Some entire bloods—those who dedicated theAlacrya ofmany potent bloodlines And what did we acco his son a subtle shake of his head "This isn't the time for such a conversation Grey, I hope you'll retire with ns Quarrel boardrooh disappointed—I wanted to delve more into this tension Lauden displayed, to see how deep it ran—I only nodded politely, and the conversation turned back to more mundane matters for the remainder of dinner

After we'd eaten asthe last bite on our plates to show that we'd been well fed and weren't gluttonous—the table was cleared and Lenora whisked Caera away

Lauden leaned back in his chair and gavefast, Grey," he said with just a hint of a slur after several glasses of strong amber liquor "Best of luck at the Victoriad It is the place to cest the nobility—or to see yourself fall with all speed back to the ground"

"See to your ," Corbett said firaze at his son He held out a hand to a side door out of the dining rooh the house and up into an office I'd known people whose entire homes would have fit into the two-story study, and there were as many books as the Ara

"Have a seat," Corbett said, gesturing to a very fine leather chair resting to one side of a carved ame board etched into the surface and pieces already laid out "I assuave a helpless sort of shrug "I should say I have played Caera enjoys renificantlythan I have"

Corbett's expression didn't change as he poured us both yet another drink and took the seat oppositedown, but settled warm and heavy into h onto my face because Corbett's lips twitched in a bare son's Breath," he announced "I'm not surprised you've never had it It'sthe banks of the Redwater near Aensgar The warriors of Vechor will often drink it before a battle"

"And is that what this is?" I asked, resting e of the board "A battle?"

The brief glint of a humorless save aahbloods' taste for this war?" I asked conversationally, although I watched Corbett's face carefully

He respondedthe edge of the board It was the sa, and has reason to be frustrated Several of our friends and allies were lost in the asuras' attack"

"Although, to be fair, many more Dicathian lives must have been lost in the attack than those of Alacryans," I pointed out, continuing to inch forith my shi+elds

"All the runted, his eye on the ga in the lines around his eyes and in his stiff posture that told me he found the topic of Elenoir and all those deaths unco to think about my next move as I took another drink of the fiery liquor "And yet, I can't help but wonder…if itfurther conflict between the asura, would it be worth giving up Dicathen?"

He frowned deeply, which highlighted his wrinkles and made him look about a decade older "You mean withdraw the forces there and abandon the continent?" He rubbed his chin thoughtfully "That is a risky proposition The blow to morale—"

"Leta striker across the board to take out his caster "If the cost of the war—the cost in highblood lives—had been made clear up front, would they still have supported it?"

We played a couple h Corbett's eyes kept flicking away from the board to me After a minute or two, he said, "It is common for the lesser bloods to overestihbloods"

I bit back an eager shbloods spoke together as one, the Sovereigns—"